"EAT THIS YA WEAKLINGS!" Tatsuki yelled as she proceeded to bowl through a group of Soul Reapers blocking hers, Sora's, and Sosuke's path. Chi Genkotsu was in its Shikai as she slammed through the Soul Reapers. Sora and Sosuke were following behind her.
"We would like to apologize on our sister's behalf!" Sosuke yelled as they ran.
"It's nothing personal!" Sora added.
"Quit your whining! We're making good time!" Tatsuki yelled at the two.
"You could've at least held back a little bit!" Sosuke said.
"Yeah they're just doing their jobs!" Sora added.
"Yeah well they should've thought of that before getting in our way!" Tatsuki argued.
"Remind me to write a mass apology letter to the whole of the Soul Society when this is over." Sora mumbled.
"Provided Tatsuki doesn't destroy it all before then." Sosuke mumbled back, the three continuing to run through the streets towards Sokyoku Hill, unaware that members of Squad 10 had spotted them.
"Confirmed. Three Ryoka matching the descriptions of Captain Wrangler's grandchildren spotted moving towards Sokyoku Hill in sector 34!" one of the squad members reported into a wireless earpiece.
"Understood! Keep up the surveillance!" Rangiku replied as, across the Seireitei, Rangiku and Captain Hitsugaya ran through the streets, searching for Kaien.
"I see Wrangler's grandchildren aren't holding back." Toshiro commented.
"Still no sign of Kaien Kurosaki." Rangiku replied.
"What of the Arrancar, Gin Ichimaru, and the other Ryoka?" Toshiro asked.
"Lieutenant Hisagi has intercepted the Arrancar, the other Ryoka hasn't been seen at all, and Gin…he's been intercepted by Lieutenants Kira and Hinamori." Rangiku said, clearly concerned about Gin. Toshiro was similarly concerned.
"Momo…" Toshiro said softly.
"Captain, do you think they can handle Gin?" Rangiku asked.
"I'm not as worried about Ichimaru as I am about Momo. She still sees Ichimaru as the one responsible for Aizen's betrayal. We can only hope that, even if Ichimaru can defeat the both of them at once, he'll go easy on them." Toshiro said as Rangiku looked worried.
"But Gin has that permanent limiter placed on his powers. He can't even use his Bankai anymore." Rangiku said but Toshiro glanced at her over his shoulder.
"You know Gin better than anyone in the Soul Society. You know he's just as cunning as he is powerful. I suspect that he can defeat Kira and Hinamori. I just hope he's not in a killing mood. But let's prepare for the worst either way. Order the men observing the battles to recover any wounded and take them to Squad 4 immediately." Toshiro said as Rangiku gave a nod, putting a hand to her earpiece, relaying his orders to the monitoring Soul Reapers.
…
In another part of the Seireitei, Soken stood hidden around a corner as a group of Soul Reapers approached from up ahead. He was masking his spiritual pressure and waited until the Soul Reapers had passed by before slipping past them and heading on down the path towards Sokyoku Hill. As he ran, he suddenly sensed an immense spiritual pressure and slid to a stop. He could sense it was coming from behind him and turned to see a single figure standing behind him.
"I thought I might find you, Ryoka. Your presence has interrupted my research and that simply cannot do. But your presence does present a rare opportunity for me." Mayuri Kurotsuchi said as he stood in the middle of the road. Soken was baffled as to how Mayuri had so easily snuck up from behind him.
"I presume that you are Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the Captain of Squad 12, head of the Soul Reaper Institute of Research and Development." Soken said as Mayuri simply stared at him.
"Hmm. For a Ryoka you appear to be well informed. Tell me Ryoka, your clothes are similar to those of a Soul Reaper but bear the colors of a Quincy. Am I correct in assuming that you are one or the other?" Mayuri asked.
"You are correct and wrong at the same time. I am both Soul Reaper and Quincy." Soken replied.
"That would explain your odd Spiritual Pressure. It doesn't seem like that of a normal Soul Reaper or Quincy. I would much like to take you to my lab for intensive analysis and dissection. I believe you may find my terms most agreeable." Mayuri said but Soken scowled.
"I am already in the process of performing an in depth analysis of myself. If you wish to aid in that analysis, then I won't begrudge you that. However I am not interested in being dissected." Soken said as Mayuri arched a curious painted eyebrow.
"Oh? Then perhaps you would share your analysis results with me. Finding a hybrid of Soul Reaper and Quincy is truly a rare find. Quite possibly the only one of your species. It would be a waste to see you destroyed by the other Soul Reapers before sharing your findings with someone so that your research may continue." Mayuri said as Soken's Reishi bow formed in his hand.
"Perhaps you would like to perform your own analysis then?" Soken asked as Mayuri stared at him for a moment.
"It would be interesting for the sake of eventually comparing notes." Mayuri said as Soken aimed his bow at Mayuri, an arrow forming in his hand.
"Very well, let us commence with the experiment." Soken said calmly.
Meanwhile…
Gin stood trapped between Lieutenants Momo Hinamori and Izuru Kira, all three of them with their Zanpakuto drawn. Gin waited for either Lieutenant to make a move. He noticed Momo starting to inch her feet towards him as if preparing to attack. She suddenly grit her teeth and charged forward, Gin quickly blocking her overhead strike with both hands on his Zanpakuto.
"Raise your head, Wabisuke!" Izuru said, releasing his Zanpakuto's Shikai before moving to assist Momo but Gin quickly spun free, causing Momo's swing to accidently collide with Wabisuke. Momo quickly pulled her Zanpakuto free. It was a little heavier due to Wabisuke's ability, but she could still hold it with one hand. She turned with an angry snarl towards Gin who stood to the side with his usual smile. He said nothing as she turned and came charging towards him with another yell.
"Bakudo 4: Hainawa!" she yelled, binding Gin's ankles with a glowing yellow rope of energy but again Gin blocked the blow. This time however, Gin found Wabisuke's Shikai around his neck, Kira having flash stepped in behind the former Captain.
"I said I didn't think this was fair." Gin commented.
"Why are you here Captain?! You know what may happen to you for doing this, don't you?!" Izuru asked.
"I'm well aware. Ya didn't think I'd come here without knowin' the consequences? Let's face it, I've had it coming to me for a while. But I can't exactly do the time until I've done the crime. So how about I surrender and come along quietly. I won't raise my blade to attack ya." Gin said as Izuru thought for a moment then removed Wabisuke from around his neck. Hinamori was more hesitant but finally backed down.
"Alright Captain, come with us." Izuru said as Gin moved to sheath his Zanpakuto. As he did though his smile widened…
"Bakudo 21: Sekienton." Gin said calmly as a sudden burst of red smoke erupted at his feet, engulfing him and the two Lieutenants. Izuru and Momo both quickly started looking around for the escaped Captain.
"I thought you said you would surrender!" Izuru yelled into the smoke.
"I lied." He heard Gin whisper behind him. Izuru quickly spun around with a swing but his blade collided with Momo's Zanpakuto, Momo having just narrowly raised it up to block in time. The smoke was clearing out now, revealing Gin standing between them, his foxlike smile still spread across his face but with his Zanpakuto hanging down in his hand at his side. Momo was now having to hold Tobiume with both hands due to the added weight.
"Sorry Izuru, but I can't quite surrender just yet. I've got a mission to fulfil. I don't want to hurt either of ya. So if ya don't mind just lettin' me go my way in peace, I'll make it up to ya." Gin said as Izuru and Momo both turned towards him.
"Snap, Tobiume!" Momo yelled as her Zanpakuto entered its Shikai, dropping into a fighting stance with her blade pointed towards Gin.
"Momo! Wait!" Izuru shouted as Momo charged at the ex-Captain but Gin deflected the blow, leaping back as she came back for a follow-up attack, her follow up missing him.
"Hado 33: Shakkaho!" Momo yelled, firing the red sphere of energy at Gin from the tip of her Zanpakuto, adding her own spirit energy to the spell but Gin flash stepped clear, the spell exploding into the wall behind him.
"Ya really got some pent up resentment in there don't ya?" Gin asked before noticing as Izuru came running towards him. Gin sighed with a shrug before ducking Izuru's swing, flash stepping clear.
"Come-come Izuru. Ya ain't gonna impress Abarai with skill like that." Gin said as Izuru scowled.
"Bakudo 61: Rikujokoro!" Momo declared, causing six wedges of light to form around Gin, keeping his arms pinned to his sides.
"Well-well, ya got me." Gin commented, still smiling.
"Enough of this!" Momo screamed as she raised her Zanpakuto to Gin's neck.
"Momo! What are you doing! We have to take him in alive!" Izuru exclaimed, noticing Momo's expression of pure rage. Gin's smile vanishing as he looked at her sadly.
"Killin' me won't help ya." Gin said softly, but Momo didn't hear him. She reared her Zanpakuto back with a scream of anger but as she swung forward, meaning to decapitate him, she felt something strike her Zanpakuto, holding it back. She looked and saw Izuru blocking Tobiume with Wabisuke. The weight of the sword now made it difficult to hold it up with both hands. She was still able to but it required a lot more effort.
"You know our orders, Momo! We have to bring him in alive!" Izuru said as Momo snarled at Gin.
"But he has to pay for what he's done! Why are you defending him?!" Momo asked as Izuru scowled at Gin.
"I'm not because I want to. I'm defending him so he can face justice for this! The Soul Society won't ignore this one! He broke his parole! He'll be facing a very harsh sentence for this! He may even die from it!" Izuru said. Momo tried to swing again but Izuru quickly struck her blade with Wabisuke again, the blade now too heavy to lift, the tip of the sword crashing into the ground, causing part of the ground to buckle from the sudden impact. Momo however was undeterred, dropping her Zanpakuto and punching Gin in the face before Izuru restrained her.
"MOMO!" Izuru exclaimed.
"Izuru, let her go!" Gin ordered. This caused both Lieutenants to freeze in surprise. They both looked to see Gin was frowning, his eyes open wide with a stern gaze leveled towards Izuru.
"Captain?" Izuru asked, surprised as Gin's eyes narrowed again but the frown was still there.
"Ya ain't angry at me, are ya Hinamori? Ya just blame me for the betrayal ya still feel from Aizen's betrayin' ya all those years ago. Ya still can't get over the betrayal, the pain, the suckin' pain in your chest. Ya keep thinkin' I had somethin' to do with it. Aizen was evil from the start. I didn't like betrayin' ya either Izuru. Ya wanna know why I joined up with Aizen? I wanted to kill him. He hurt a dear friend of mine long ago, and stole somethin' from her. I vowed to make sure he died. I joined him to get close to him, so that when the time came, I'd strike and kill him. Well it turns out I wasn't the one meant to kill him. Kurosaki took care of that. I realized that when Kurosaki routinely messed up Aizen's plans. Killin' me won't make the pain go away, Hinamori. But if beatin' me senseless helps, then I won't stop ya." Gin said, Izuru and Momo looking at him in surprise. Momo had tears running down her cheeks, angrily struggling with herself, struggling to decide whether to kill Gin or to accept what she'd known all along. Finally Momo broke down into tears, throwing back her head in anguish.
"AIZEN YOU BASTARD!" she screamed.
"For what it's worth, Hinamori…I'm sorry." Gin said, Momo looking at him in surprise. She and Izuru then shielded themselves as the six light wedges shattered, Gin dropping to his feet and picking up his Zanpakuto, sheathing it.
"Captain, I still can't let you leave." Izuru said as he rose to his feet.
"I know, but ya don't have a choice either way. Consider this one last order from your old Captain. Prepare Squad 3 for war." Gin said, confusing Izuru.
"What?" he asked as Gin turned away.
"If Kurosaki doesn't reach Sokyoku Hill in time, we're gonna have a big problem on our hands. So just this once, listen to me and follow my orders, Izuru." Gin said before looking over his shoulder towards Izuru and Momo with a smile.
"Bye-bye." He said before turning back and running on towards Sokyoku Hill, leaving Izuru and an emotional Momo behind. Izuru then noticed Momo climbing to her feet, picking up the now sealed Tobiume, Wabisuke's effect having dissipated, and sheathing it.
"Come on Izuru." Momo said softly.
"Hinamori?" Izuru asked as Momo started walking away. She said nothing as she left, leaving Izuru alone in the street. Izuru's thoughts drifted back towards Gin's last command. In his gut, he knew this was an order he needed to follow. He quickly turned and started running for the Squad 3 Barracks, heading off to rally them for war, but who the enemy was, he didn't know.
In a different part of the Seireitei…
Kaien was running through the streets, Ametsuchi having reverted to their sealed forms and running behind him.
"How much further is it?!" Kaien asked as he saw Sokyoku Hill very slowly getting closer.
"How should we know?" "We've never been here before until now!" the twins argued.
"It was a rhetorical question!" Kaien argued back.
"Well why did you ask us?!" The twins asked.
"I didn't!" Kaien argued.
"You just did!" one of the twins replied. They were still running through the streets towards the hill.
"I just said it was rhetorical!" Kaien said.
"But who else would you have asked besides us?!" "We're the only ones here to answer you!" Ametsuchi replied, causing Kaien to groan in annoyance.
"Come on already!" Kaien groaned.
"It's your own fault!" "Yeah you're the one asking people who aren't even there!" Ametsuchi argued as Kaien scowled.
"That's it! Come together, Ametsuchi!" Kaien groaned, the twins immediately reverting to their sword forms. Kaien immediately stuck them on his back and kept running.
"Finally. Some peace and quiet for a change." Kaien grumbled.
"We're still here!" Ametsuchi yelled, their bladed forms glowing with a red aura for a moment.
"Give me a break!" Kaien groaned as he reached a three way intersection, the path splitting off to the right and left.
"Man this place is like a maze. I know what general direction to go but getting there's impossible." Kaien grumbled.
"Why not just go up and over the wall in front of us?" "Or get on the wall to see which path leads which direction." Ametsuchi suggested.
"Not a bad idea. Thanks." Kaien replied, flash stepping up onto the wall and glancing down both paths. He then spotted the path leading right led on towards the hill sooner than the one to the left.
"There!" he said, leaping off the wall back onto the road and then continuing on his way. He continued running but as he did, he began feeling a strange but powerful spiritual pressure getting gradually closer to him.
"There's something coming. I dunno if we're being followed or something else." Kaien said as he ran, the road turning to the right up ahead.
"Whatever it is, it's powerful." One of the twins said. Kaien rounded the corner and quickly found himself in a wide open space with no other entrances or exits save the one he'd just come through. There were four towers at the corners of this large square space, the area apparently having recently been cleared for some planned construction. A sign on one wall reading "Future Site of Squad 12 Research Annex 4."
"Guess we took a wrong turn." Kaien grumbled. Before he could move, the spiritual pressure he'd been feeling rapidly intensified, a pressure so strong he was briefly paralyzed by it.
"What is this?!" he asked, sensing the pressure was behind him. He turned but saw no one but he could hear a faint jingling sound that was getting closer. Soon he saw it, a towering man with his hair done up in seven black spikes with bells on the end and an eyepatch over his right eye. Kaien recognized his uniform right off as that of a Captain's. The man looked at him as if studying him.
"Hmm. Must've gotten lost again. Hey you! You know where I can find the Ryoka?" Kenpachi Zaraki asked Kaien who blinked in confusion.
"Uhh…" he stammered. Kenpachi then turned to him with a mildly impatient look.
"Hey, I asked you where the Ryoka were. Don't you know?" Kenpachi asked as he started to approach. He suddenly stopped, looming over Kaien with a curious look. Kaien was still taken by surprise by Kenpachi's size.
"I-I don't know." Kaien replied as Kenpachi looked away.
"(Tsh). Figures. First whiff of her spiritual pressure I get in a month and I can't even find her." Kenpachi said with a huff of annoyance.
"Her?" Kaien asked as Kenpachi's visible eye darted back to Kaien.
"I'm looking for my Lieutenant. I haven't seen her in over a month. Then today, I briefly felt her Spiritual Pressure, or something similar coming from somewhere here in the Soul Society." Kenpachi explained as Kaien sweat dropped.
"You haven't seen your Lieutenant in a month?" Kaien asked, surprised. Kenpachi looked at him for a moment before letting out a soft grunt of annoyance.
"What was she doing when your Lieutenant disappeared?" Kaien asked. He suspected he knew the answer.
"She was off getting framed for a crime she didn't commit. She was supposedly giving Soul Reaper powers to a human." Kenpachi said as Kaien froze, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait…your name wouldn't happen to be Kenny would it?" Kaien asked Kenpachi's spiritual pressure suddenly skyrocketed at the question. Kenpachi looked at him with an angered expression.
"That's what she called me. Why would you call me that…unless…" Kenpachi said as he looked closely at Kaien. After a moment his scowl turned into a wide grin.
"I get it. Now I know why I could feel her Spiritual Pressure all of a sudden. Why I felt it the moment the Ryoka alert went out. It's because you're here. You're the human she gave Soul Reaper powers to." Kenpachi said as he reached for his Zanpakuto. Kaien quickly flash stepped backwards, narrowly avoiding as Kenpachi drew his sword, swinging it up quickly with intent to cut him.
"So you're the reason Yachiru's going through hell. It's bad enough to be accused of crimes you didn't commit, to have fake memories put in your head to make you think you did just to get a confession, and low and behold, the only actual charge against her shows up." Kenpachi said as Kaien drew his twin Zanpakuto.
"Yachiru was the one who awoken my powers, but it was for a good reason!" Kaien replied as Kenpachi rested his Zanpakuto on his shoulder.
"I don't really care what your reason is. I've been waiting for you to show up, human. I've been dying to cut into you for some time now. I hope you can put up a decent fight because I plan to have a little fun before I kill you for ruining Yachiru's life." Kenpachi said with his usual grin. Kaien immediately took up a defensive stance.
"And to answer your question human, my name isn't Kenny. Only Yachiru calls me that. I am Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of Squad 11!"
End Chapter 44
Arrancar Encyclopedia
"Arrancar Daihyakka!" Retsu Unohana's voiceover said. This time it's Kisuke Urahara standing in front of the jumbotron again with the pointer in hand.
"Hey there. Since Gin's busy in the Soul Society, I thought I'd take the opportunity to fill in for him. So today we'll be discussing the differences between the Black Wrangler trilogy and actual Bleach canon." Kisuke said before turning to the jumbotron which showed an image of Masaki Kurosaki.
"In Bleach Canon, Masaki Kurosaki is a Quincy, thus making Ichigo Kurosaki the first Soul Reaper/Quincy hybrid. In the Black Wrangler Trilogy, she was an ordinary human and later became a Soul Reaper after her soul was freed along with the rest of Grand Fisher's victims when Grand Fisher was slain by Isshin Kurosaki." Kisuke explained as an image of the powerless Sosuke Aizen from Bleach Canon appeared on the screen.
"In Bleach Canon, Aizen was rendered powerless and later sent away for a long time by Central 46…" Kisuke said before the screen showed an image of Aizen's petrified severed head.
"…in Black Wrangler canon, he's had a few inches taken off at the neck and is quite dead." Kisuke said before the screen shifted to Isshin Kurosaki with his Zanpakuto drawn.
"In Bleach Canon, Isshin Kurosaki was originally Isshin Shiba and was the uncle of Kaien, Kukaku, and Ganju Shiba. His Zanpakuto was named Engetsu. He is the former Captain of Squad 10. In Wrangler Canon, he has always been known as Isshin Kurosaki. His Zanpakuto is known as Chuushuunomeigetsu, meaning Harvest Moon. He is the retired Captain of Squad 11 and a former Kenpachi, the only Kenpachi to have surrendered the title without it being taken from him in combat." Kisuke explained before an image of the Quincy Cross appeared on the screen.
"The Quincy aren't an issue, and are not waging the 'Thousand Year Blood War' of the current manga arc. In fact the only Quincy left are those of the Ishida family." Kisuke explained before the screen shifted to an image of the Fullbringers from Xcution.
"Xcution, and the events associated with their story arc, never existed. However the use of the term 'Fullbring' still applies to individuals with similar powers such as Chad, Orihime, and Miss. Arisawa and the two Fullbringers from the Karakuraizer filler chapters." Kisuke explained as the screen shifted to an image of Kenpachi with his sword drawn.
"In Bleach Canon, Kenpachi finally learns the name of his Zanpakuto while in Wrangler Canon, he still doesn't know it. The author also mentioned to me that he won't ever learn it. More fun that way." Kisuke said as the screen shifted to an image of Rukia with her Zanpakuto drawn.
"In Bleach Canon, Rukia finally achieves Bankai. In Wrangler Canon, she hasn't and probably won't." Kisuke explained before the screen shifted to the movie posters for the four Bleach Movies: Memories of a Nobody, Diamond Dust Rebellion, Fade to Black, and the Hell Verse.
"While the 4 Bleach movies tend to be ambiguously considered canon as far as Bleach Canon is concerned, only the first three, Memories of a Nobody, Diamond Dust Rebellion, and Fade to Black, are considered Canon in the Wrangler universe. The author also wanted me to add that the reason Hell Verse isn't included is not because of any personal dislike but because there are certain aspects of the film that would contradict the canon of his first Bleach Story, The Black Wrangler. He actually does like the Hell Verse film but its inclusion would be difficult to explain in this instance." Kisuke said before the screen shifted to an image of Retsu Unohana with the Squad 11 banner behind her.
"In Bleach Canon, Captain Unohana was formerly Yachiru Unohana and the first Kenpachi. In Wrangler Canon, she has always been the same sweet and kind 4th Division Captain we know and love. Although if that's the case, I wonder why everyone still acts so scared of her, you know?" Kisuke asked.
"Why indeed, Mr. Urahara." Unohana said from just over his shoulder with a sweet smile. Kisuke immediately broke out in a sweat and turned towards her in alarm.
"Ah! When did you get here?!" Kisuke asked nervously.
Fin